High-frequency diathermy applicator



May 30, 1950 o. R. BOWERS HIGH-FREQUENCY DIATl'lERMY APPLICATOR 4She'bS-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 27, 194e May 30,. 1950 o. R. BOWERSHIGH-FREQUENCY DIATHERMY APPLICA'TOR` Filed Nov, 27, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet2 m l N Maly 3m H95@ 0, m, BOWERS 59994K? HIGH-FREQUENCY DITHERMYAPPLICATOR MEW 3U, W5@ o. m. Bom/ERS EWSUQAN HIGH-FREQUENCY DIATHERMYAPPLICATOR f Filed Nov. 27, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented May 3Q, 1950HIGH-FREQUENCY DIATHERMY APPLICATOR Oscar R. Bowers, Milton, Wis.,assignor to The Burdick Corporation, Milton, Wis., a corporation ofDelaware Application November 27, 1946, Serial No. 712,583

The present invention relates to a high frequency diathermy applicatoror, as it is sometimes called, an electrode which is particularlydesigned for use in diathermy treatment of individuals.

sectionalized housing within which is mountedl a single coil and whichis so constructed and arranged that the diathermy effect issubstantially evenly distributed over the face of the applicator andremains substantially uniform throughout the various positions ofadjustment.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved therapeutic applicator of sectionalized construction whereinthe several sections are hingedly secured relative to each other by thecoil.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved high frequency applicator including a coil which is mountedclose to the face of the applicator and is therefore most effective and,furthermore, wherein the` heat generated in the applicator is conductedaway from the inner face and to the back of the applicator, therebyminimizing the danger of burning the patient during treatment.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent vfrom the ensuing description of an embodiment, in the courseof which reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a top plan view, partly broken away,

illustrating an applicator constructed in accordtional view taken alongthe staggered line 6 6 of Fig. l, illustrating the center and outersections of the applicator at an angle with respect 4 Claims. (Cl. 12S-405) to each other instead of in line as illustrated in the precedingfigures;

Fig. 'l is an end elevational view on a reduced scale illustrating theapplicator in adjusted position to t about a curved part of the body;and

Fig. 8 is an exploded view of the applicator illustrating the variousparts of the sectionalized housing and omitting the coil and certain ofits supporting structure (including certain screws which are molded intothe housing sections).

The high frequency applicator illustrated in the drawings is indicatedas a whole by reference character Ill. It is characterized by itssectionalized construction and in the preferred embodiment of theinvention illustrated, it includes a plurality of relatively movablesections comprising a center section I2 and end sections I4 and I6 whichare of similar but opposite construction for attachment to oppositesides of the center section. These sections are made of some suitableinsulating material, preferably Bakelite,

and they may be constructed in any suitable manner, as by casting.

In accordance with one of the features of the present invention, asingle plural convolution high frequency tubular coil I8 is housedwithin the multiple section housing. This coil contains but a relativelyfew convolutions or turns and these are distributed over the greaterportion of the applicator, thereby to provide a uniform distribution ofthe diathermy current. In accordance with another of the features of theinvention, the coil is utilized hingedly to support the sections of theapplicator relative to each other. Accordingly, the coil is divided intocenter, right and left, as viewed in Fig. 1, sections 20, 22, and 2d.The sections are joined by electrically conductive hinges, illustratedby the reference character 26 and the specific construction of whichwill be described in greater detail hereinafter.

In accordance with still another feature of the present invention, thecoil I8 is supported near the face of the applicator in order that it belocated as close as possible to the patient :and be most effective inuse. In order to make this possible, the heat generated in the coil byelectrical losses is conducted away from the patient and coil to theouter or back side of the applicator by the coil supports 28 which aresecured (as will be described shortly) to the outer side of the varioushousing sections.

The construction of the individual housing sections will now bedescribed. The center section I2 includes a bottom wall 30, the lowerside of which has projecting from it an integral boss 32 recessed forthe reception of an applicator holder 34, which may be part of thediathermy apparatus.

The center section includes also end Walls 36 and 38 and a separablecover 4B having downwardly extending lugs 42 adapted to set upon bosses44 extending inwardly from the end walls 36 and 38. The lugs yand bossesare of a height such that when the applicator is flat, as illustrated inFig. 2, the cover 4D is substantially at the same elevation as thecovers of the end sec tions. The Ycover of the center section l2 itadapted detachably to be secured to the bottom wall 36 of the section insuitable manner, such as by the screws 46, passing through the cover andits downwardly extending lugs 42 into the bosses 44, and covered byplugs 41 (see Fig, 6),

In order to maintain the housing closed in the various positions ofangular adjustment of `the applicator, the end walls of the centersection are provided with wings BBL rand :36B and 38L and SSR andarcuate flanges EDR. .and '501, are

' connected to the bottom .by .short upright Aportions 52, as bestillutrated in Figs. Y2 and i8. VThe Wings and flanges cooperate `with.portions of `the end sections to keep `the housing .closed iorthevarious positions of adjustment Aas will appear shortly. The flanges i@interconnect the wings 3BR and y3BR and the wings 36L and 38L, whichalso terminate in arcuate portions following the vare vof the flanges.

The end sections d'4 `and l are alike in construction and ltherefore.only one, the right one `|4, will be described in detail and the same`reference characters applied to both to illustrate the like parts.

The yend section includes a top :or cover 54 movablymounted, for `apurpose which will appear shortly, relative to Ythe cooperating Vhousing`memberV 56 having'a back 58, .sidewalls turned side anges "l2 in thecover, which slidably "receive .guide lugs 'TM at the upper edge nearthe V'tops of the Vwalls .tu and 152. The cover also has a downwardlyextending ange le at its end, which is not inturnedbut which Vdocs servemore completely lto close :the housing.

The coil carrying portion of `the end section moves lpivotally about thehinges 2S which are,

asbestillustrated in Figs. `2 and 6, located somewhat below andto oneside of the hinge pin t6.

As the end section is moved angularly, the cover movespivotally aboutthe axis deiined by the hinge pin While .the remainder moves about anlaxisdeiined'by'the hinges. Inasmuch as these two axes are displaced, itis necessary for the coverY tcrnove relative yto the other part and this'is the reason for the use of the above-described l constructionpermitting such relative movement. 'In order to maintain the housingclosed inthe various positions of adjustment, `the outer secf tion isalso provided with `an arcuate flange 80 cooperatingwith the iiange 58.The flange 8i! is provided with arcuate extensions 82 Vwhich serve ytoclose the space between the vwings 3ER and Y4138.152., the end sectionsbeing preferably made ysomewhatnarrower than the center section. The

frespective flanges Sil are also located somewhat above the respectivebottoms 58 and in effect constitute ilanges extending from therespective vertical Walls 84 extending upwardly from the respectivebottoms 58. It may be mentioned that the flanges 50 and 80 have theirrespective centers of rotation at the respective axes of the hinges 26..

yThe coil is rigidly supported near the top of the applicator by thecoil supports 28, to which reference has already been made. Thesesupports are vpreferably made of heat conducting insulating material andare secured to the back walls of the individual sections by screws 86`molded with `the bosses 88 extending away from thewall, asbestillustrated in Fig. 2. `The coil is secured "to thecoil supports insuitable manner. Preferably, a coil receiving generally U-shaped bracket89 is secured to the top of each support. This can conveniently be doneby means of a screw 89A, as again best illustrated in Fig.'2.

The .coil .is .suitably 4secured Vto the brackets as by brazing.

'The coil 'hinges 26 include tongues V95 at the Y `'opposite ends of thecenter coil sections 20 .and

the groove defining members 92 at the adjacent Y,ends ofthe coilsections 22 and 24. Each Ahinge includes also a screw bolt `34 kpassingthrough apertures in the tongue andgroove-dening'portions ofthe coil andAgood contact is Vprovided by the generally ,concavo convex washers 96.

High frequency lcurrent :is vsupplied to the coil `through the leads |00and 182, (which may be covered'with requisite insulation-not shown) theformer of which is .connected .to a terminal |04 connected in -turn toV.the Vouter .end of the coil,

f as best illustrated :in Fig. 1. lThe lead -I |12 is connected to aterminal |06, which is connected by a downwardly extending bus or strap|08 to a terminal |20 .connected to the Vinner -end of the coil, whichis .located near the .center of the right coil section 22.

In operation, high frequency current is supplied-to the applicatorthrough the leads IUD and |12 from the diathermy apparatus. Theapplicator is placed over that portion yof vthe -patients :body `whichit is desired to treat. If the portion :is relatively nat, such as theback ofthe patient,

.the applicator will be adjusted to be substantially flat .as it isillustrated in Fig. 3. If the portion of .the `body to be treated isrounded, such as the `arm or leg or head of the patient, the sections ofthe applicator are adjusted to conform to the nature of the portion ofthe body being treated.V One position `of adjustment has beenillustrated in Fig. 7.

One of the advantages ofthe applicatorV is that itis readily adjustedand the use of a single coil having its convolutions distributed overthe area of the applicator insures substantially even distributionof thediathermy-eifectover the applicator. Furthermore, the effect remainssubstantially uniform throughout the various positions of adjustment.This is a considerable advantage, especially -in the treatment ofvarious portions of the face, as in the treatment of sinus conditions.Even thou-gh the coi-l is located near the face of the applicator, i.e., that portion of it closest the patient, the patient will not beharmed by the heat generated in the coil. This results in the fact thatthe 'heat is conducted toward the back of the applicator through thecoil supports 28.

Another advantage of the-applicator is its complete closure in allpositions of adjustment so'that neither the patient -nor the operatorcan come into contact with the coil.

While but a single embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed in detail, it should be understood that the specic detailsthereof are not intended to be limitative of the invention except in sofar as set forth in the accompanying claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A high frequency diathermy applicator comprising a sectionalizedhousing, the sections being hinged together for relative movement andeach having a face of application, and a high frequency conductor Withinsaid housing arranged in the form of a single spiral having a portionsubstantially uniformly distributed in each section and all parts of theconductor constituting each portion being equidistant from the face ofthe associated section.

2. A high frequency diathermy applicator comprising a housing consistingof a plurality of separate sections, each section having side and backwalls and an open face and the sections being hingedly secured togetherin side by side relation by hinges back of the open faces thereof, ahigh frequency coil contained Within said housing, said coil havingportions distributed in each of the sections, covers individual to eachhousing section to enclose the coil and form the front face of theapplicator, the cover -of one housing section being xed thereto whereasthe covers of the other housing sections are slidable relative to theirassociated sections, and hinges interconnecting the covers of theseveral housing sections.

3. A high frequency diathermy applicator comprising a plurality ofseparate sections having back and side walls and being secured togetherby section hinges in side by side relation to define a flexiblesectionalized housing having an open face, the axis of hinging beingspaced back from said open face, a high frequency coil having portions`contained in each of the several sections, and covers enclosing thecoil and forming the face of the applicator, the cover of at least onehousing section being xed thereto while the covers of the other housingsections are slidable with respect to their associated section, thesliding attachment of the covers to the sections accommodating thechanging total face length of the housing incident to the folding andunfolding of the housing on the section hinges.

4. A high frequency diathermy applicator, comprising a sectionalizedhousing having the sections hinged together for relative movement towardand away from each other, and a single multi-convolution spiralelectro-inductive coil having only a portion of each convolution locatedin each housing section so that each convolution is completed by coilportions in all housing sections.

OSCAR R. BOWERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 544,552 Wiles Aug. 13, 18951,109,735 Bignell Sept. 8, 1914 1,492,821 Weinbach May 6, 1924 1,758,213Bartik May 13, 1930 2,404,283 Gieringer July 16, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date 327,867 Italy July 19, 1935

